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US, Taliban 'reduction of violence' will start tonight, official says

The week long “reduction in violence” agreed upon by the U.S. and Taliban is set to go into effect Friday night in Afghanistan, starting a countdown clock to when both sides will sign a peace deal that would bring an eventual end to the 18-year conflict, an official says.

A senior U.S. State Department official told the Associated Press that after the seven-day period passes, the long-sought-after agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban will be approved at the end of the month in Doha, Qatar, paving the way for a withdrawal of U.S. troops.

“We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement issued Friday. “Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political road map for Afghanistan. ‘’

Under the terms of the “reduction in violence" — which covers all of Afghanistan and also applies to Afghan forces — all sides have committed to end attacks for a seven-day period. For the Taliban, that includes roadside bombings, suicide attacks and rocket strikes.

The deal to be signed on Feb. 29 also envisions guarantees from the Taliban that Afghanistan will not be used to attack the U.S. or its allies, the Associated Press reports. It provides for the phased withdrawal of American and other foreign forces from the country over 18 months.

“Both parties will now create a suitable security situation in advance of agreement signing date, extend invitations to senior representatives of numerous countries and organizations to participate in the signing ceremony… and finally lay the groundwork for peace across the country with the withdrawal of all foreign forces," the Taliban said in a statement Friday.

The peace deal also calls for the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners, most of whom are being held in jails run by the Afghan government. Although the U.S. has already discussed the prisoner release with government representatives, there has been no public announcement about it from President Ashraf Ghani's government.

The Taliban, in their statement Friday, added they will not allow “the land of Afghanistan to be used against security of others so that our people can live a peaceful and prosperous life under the shade of an Islamic system."

However, it's still not clear who will represent Kabul at the negotiation table for the intra-Afghan talks, considered a key pillar in finding a lasting peace in the war-torn country. The Afghan election commission earlier this week declared President Ashraf Ghani the winner of the presidential elections held in September, but his rivals quickly denounced his win.

The Taliban have refused to talk to Ghani's government and also denounced the election results, saying they will talk to government representatives but only as ordinary Afghans.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-taliban-reduction-of-violence-deal

Good Luck Mr.President!!!

Leaving afghanistan in the hands of the Taliban is an 'L' for the US no matter how you spin it. But I'll be happy to get our troops out of there altogether.

US launches airstrike against Taliban

The U.S. launched an airstrike against the Taliban in Afghanistan on Wednesday, days after the Trump administration signed a deal with the military group.

A spokesperson for the U.S. military said the strike was launched to interrupt a Taliban attack on a checkpoint manned by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), the latest in what the spokesperson said was a string of attacks on such installations.

“The US conducted an airstrike on March 4 against Taliban fighters in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand, who were actively attacking an #ANDSF checkpoint. This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack. This was our 1st strike against the Taliban in 11 days,” Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesperson for the U.S. operation in Afghanistan, tweeted.

“On March 3rd alone, the Taliban conducted 43 attacks on #ANDSF checkpoints in #Helmand. The Taliban claim to be fighting to free Afg. from int’l forces, the Feb 29 agreement provides a conditions-based path to withdrawal,” he added.



The checkpoint attacks and the U.S. military’s response come days after the Trump administration and the Taliban signed an agreement that would lead to a substantial drawdown of troops in Afghanistan.

Under the deal signed Saturday, the U.S. military must decrease troop levels to 8,600 in 135 days. The deal also lays out a timeline for a full U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 14 months if the Taliban lives up to its commitments.

In return, the Taliban vowed to “not allow any of its members, other individuals or groups, including al Qaeda, to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its allies.” The group also said it would tell its members “not to cooperate” with those who threaten the United States and prevent groups and people endangering the United States from “recruiting, training and fundraising” in the territory int controls.

Officials have said that the deal will be followed by intra-Afghan talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul.

However, the prospects for a permanent arrangement have already hit snags, with the Afghan government rejecting a prisoner swap with the Taliban that was supposed to precede talks and the Taliban pulling out of a partial truce the U.S. had expected to be honored throughout negotiations.

Leggett on Wednesday called on the Taliban to abide by their promises to reduce violence but said the group appeared intent on "squandering" the opportunity for peace.

"Taliban leadership promised the int’l community they would reduce violence and not increase attacks. We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold their commitments," he said. "As we have demonstrated, we will defend our partners when required."

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/485872-us-launches-airstrike-against-taliban

Lololololololol maaaaaaaann......

All I gotta say is thank the stars I got out.

The trump era. Lol. Long live the King. Can’t wait to hear the BS out of the WH on this one.

Is this anything like the North Korea not firing off any more test Missles?